Duncan earns 21st career conference honor

WASHINGTON — For the 21st time in his career, the guy wearing No. 21 for the Spurs is the Western Conference Player of the Week.

Tim Duncan took home his first such award in almost three years Monday after a week in which he posted three double-doubles and averaged 22 points, 12.8 rebounds, three assists and 1.25 blocks as the Spurs went 3-1.

That Duncan could attain such a feat at age 36 underscores something coach Gregg Popovich has been repeating since last February, when the Hall of Fame-bound big man was left off the All-Star team for the first time in his 15-year career.

“I thought he was an All-Star last year,” Popovich said before Monday’s 118-92 pasting of Washington. “I thought that was an omission. This year, he’s been playing the same way, our most solid player. Tony (Parker) has been great lately, but for a good portion of the season, Timmy’s carried us. He’s been the building block, as usual.”

Duncan opened last week with a string of three consecutive games of at least 20 points and 10 rebounds, his first such streak since Nov. 23-27, 2009, not coincidentally the last time he was named a conference player of the week.

Duncan contributed 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks in a little more than 23 minutes. After 15 games, Duncan’s team-leading scoring average (18.6 points) is his best since 2008-09, while his rebounding (10.1 per game) is at its highest level since 2009-10.

“At 36, it’s tough to play like that,” said Parker, at 30 the youngest of the Spurs’ Big Three. “At the same time, he works hard and takes care of his body. He’s making sure he eats well and keeps his knees healthy. So far, it’s looking good.”

Green’s streak ends: Spurs guard Danny Green missed on both his 3-point attempts, halting the NBA’s longest active streak of games at 32.

The last time Green failed to connect from distance in a regular season game was March 27, when he went 0 for 5 in a win at Phoenix.

The Inside Man: The Wizards came into Monday’s game with an easy scapegoat should their season-opening losing streak hit 12 games. Coach Randy Wittman’s lead assistant, Don Newman, spent the previous seven seasons on Popovich’s bench.

“We got the (Spurs’) whole game plan tonight,” Wittman joked before the game. “If we don’t win this one, it’s not on me. It’s Newman’s fault.”

In seriousness, Wittman admitted Newman’s presence provided added insight into the Spurs’ system but said having access to the Xs and Os was only half the battle.

“It’s one thing to game plan and put a thing together,” Wittman said, “and another to go out and defend Parker, (Manu) Ginobili, Duncan.”